03/31/06
Whether an American League or National League fan, the CTA has long been the best way for baseball fans in Chicago to get to the ballpark. But with the Dan Ryan under construction, taking public transit to U.S. Cellular and Wrigley Field is more strongly encouraged than ever this baseball season.
Baseball fans are reminded that the Chicago Transit Authority provides convenient, affordable bus and rail service to both the World Champion Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs home fields.
CTA Service to U.S. Cellular Field
The Chicago White Sox home opener is Sunday, April 2 at
7:05 p.m. against the Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field and CTA provides several travel options for fans of the South Side Champions. CTA personnel will be at the Sox-35th station on the Red Line from 5:30 ? 7 p.m. on Sunday with applications for Chicago Cards for baseball fans interested in switching to an electronic farecard to make travel on the CTA faster and more convenient.
The Red Line provides direct service to Sox-35th station, just steps away from U.S. Cellular Field. Red Line trains operate between Howard and 95th, making stops at the accessible Sox-35th station. From the State Street subway downtown, fans will arrive at Sox-35th in approximately 10 to 12 minutes. And from 95th, the trip is approximately 18 minutes. Free connections can be made from Purple and Yellow Line trains at Howard, from all 'L' lines serving the Loop, or from Brown Line trains at Belmont or Fullerton.
In addition to the Red Line, CTA's Green Line provides a convenient travel option to U.S. Cellular Field. The accessible Green Line station at 35th-Bronzeville-IIT is a few blocks east of the stadium. Fans can walk to the ballpark or transfer to
#35 35th buses which stop at the park. Green Line trains operate between 63rd/Ashland, Cottage Grove/East 63rd on the city's South Side and Lake/Harlem in Oak Park. From Clark/Lake downtown, the trip to 35th-Bronzeville-IIT is less than 15 minutes.
Additionally, U.S. Cellular Field is served by #35 35th buses that stop at accessible stations on both the Green and Orange Lines, and for the home opener additional service will be provided on the #35 route between the Orange Line and the Red Line. On weekdays through early evening, #24 Wentworth buses serve the park from Clark Street downtown, and from 79th via Vincennes, Wentworth and LaSalle.
#29 State buses that operate on State Street between the Red Line terminal at 95th Street and Navy Pier provide another nearby travel option.
CTA Service to Wrigley Field
The Chicago Cubs home opener is Friday, April 7 at 1:20 p.m. against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. The Red Line serves Wrigley Field via the accessible station at Addison. Fans can transfer to Red Line trains from all other 'L' lines and from most east-west bus routes.
Trips to Addison take less than 20 minutes from stations in the State Street subway downtown, or from Howard, where fans can connect from Purple or Yellow Line trains serving the northern suburbs. Fans using these stations also can take advantage of convenient Park & Ride lots at Howard, Linden and Skokie. Parking fees at these lots are $2.
Additional rail service will be provided for weeknight Cubs games. For those games, southbound Purple Line Express trains will stop at Addison enroute to downtown from Linden. On game nights, Yellow Line trains will operate two hours later (until midnight) from Howard. This provides a convenient option for fans to Park & Ride by using the more than 700 parking spaces available at the Skokie Yellow Line station, just three blocks east of the Edens Expressway.
In addition to rail service, Cubs fans can access Wrigley Field from several CTA bus routes; #8 Halsted buses that operate north on Halsted from 79th Street to Broadway/Waveland,
#22 Clark buses that operate north through the Loop on Dearborn and south on Clark from Howard, and #152 Addison buses that operate on Addison from Cumberland on the west to Lake Shore Drive on the east.
For all games, additional service will be provided on the #152 Addison route as crowds warrant, starting two hours before game time and operating until one hour after games end.
For fans who prefer to drive part of the way to the games, another option is the #154 Wrigley Field Express which operates for all night and weekend games.
#154 buses provide direct service to Wrigley Field from parking lots at DeVryUniversity on Rockwell, a quarter-mile west of Western and a quarter-mile south of Addison. Service begins three hours before each game and runs until one hour after night games end, and two hours after weekend games end. A $6 fee includes parking at DeVry and round-trip bus transit for a carload of fans.
Bus customers who use CTA fare media pay $1.75 to ride and may transfer for a 25 cent fee. Rail customers who use Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus pay $1.75 and transfers are an additional 25 cents. For rail customers who use a magnetic strip transit card, or for customers who pay cash on either the bus or rail system, the fare is $2. Transfers are not available for customers paying fares in cash.
For details about all CTA service, call 836-7000 (all local area codes) or visit the CTA web site at www.transitchicago.com.
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